Braiding machine



Patent-d Apr. 2", 192

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ANKER PETERSEN, OF WINTER/OP, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 .AIMIII'R'ICAN'VIR'E- 'MOLD COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A. CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.r

Patented Apr. 25, 1922.

Application lediJanuauryv 3, 1921.- Serial No. 434,577.

Toiall whom t may concelm.'

Be it known thatl, ANKER PETERsEN, a

citizen of the United St`ates of America, and n serves to drivegears 13, 14 in opposite .direcf y resident of Winthrop, in the `county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Braiding Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to circular braiding machines of that type in which a series of thread carriers are caused to travel in a gen-v erally circular path about a central point while a second series of carriers is revolved in the opposite direction, the threads from the two series intertwining at said central point to form a braid. The invention, while generally applicable to braiding machines having the characteristics above outlined, is

herein illustrated as applied to a machine of the specific type disclosed in patent to Petersen, 1,331,672, Feb. 24, 1920, to which reference may be had for the detail construction and arrangement of the braiding elements and the devices for operating the same.

The present invention consists in the novel features of construction hereinafter de.- scribedland particularly pointed out in the claims.`

In the accompanying drawings whereinA one embodiment of the invention 'is illustrated, only such parts of the braiding malchine proper are shown as are necessary for an understanding of the novel features off this invention.

F ig. 1 is a side elevation of a braiding machine having the invention applied thereto;

F ig.'2 is a cross section to larger scale, Von the line A-B of Fig. 1

Fig. '3 is a cross section to large scale, on the line (1 -D of Fig. 1, and,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, detail elevation of a stop wheel employed lin the device.

Thel circular frame 1 of the machine is supported upon legs 2. Mounted for rotation in the frame 1 is a support 3 upon which are arranged thread carriers 4 forming one of the two oppositely moving series of carriers. Threads 5 are indicated as extending depending bracket 11 secured to the frame member l..

A beveled gear 12 is fast to the shaft 7 and Aframe 3, as by means of bolts 20 is aiyoke lower thread carrier supports respectively in v member 19, said yoke member extending upwardly from the frame and being provided with a substantiallyhorizontal portion 21 which bridges the machine and extends substantially diametrally across the same. Depending from the member 21 is an integral bracket 22 having secured adjacent its lower end a secondary bracket 23. Ugon the latter t is carried the braiding die 24. uch die may.

consist either of a solid bar over which the braid is formed or a ring or tube through a circular-bore in which the braided material passes to the takeup drum hereinafter described. j j

A transverse shaft 25 is rotatable in bearings at 26, 27 Aand 28, carried by the bracket.

22, the yoke 19, and an outstanding bracket 30 carried by the latter, respectively. A second shaft 3,1, substantially parallel to` shaft 25, turns in bearings32 and 33, said shaft having a pinion 34 meshing with a pinion 35 carried upon the outer extremity of shaft 25T The shaft 31 also has a beveled gear 36 meshing with the bevel gear 37 carried upon the upper end of a' vertical shaft 38 rotatably supported in fixed bearings at 39, 40. Upon the lower end of the shaft 38 is yfixed a'worm wheel 41 engaginga worm 42 fast upon the main drive shaft 7 L yThus` through the connections just described theV shaft 25 will be rotated simultaneously with t-he rotation of shaft 7 y ,Upon its left hand extremity, (Fig. 1) the shaft 25 is provided with al lnion 43 which meshes with an internal gear formed upon the inside of the takeup drum 44. The takeup drum 44 is fixed upon a short shaft 45 rotatable in `bearings 46, carried bythe bracket 22. Secured to the opposite end of the shaft 45 is a Wormv 47 (Fig. 2) meshping with a worm wheel 48 fast to a vertical however, the slot or opening in a supporting frame 52 carriedby the bracket 22. A worm 53 is fast upon the shaft 49.

54 isa bracket arm outstanding from the frame 52 and provided with a longitudinal slot 55. A stub shaft `56 is mounted to slide in the slot 55, and a nut 57 is` provided whereby such shaft may be secured in adjusted position in said slot. 58 is mounted to turn lfreely on 4shaft 56,l said wheel being adapted to mesh with the worm 53 and to be driven by the latter.

Secured on one face of the worm'wheel 58 is a disc 59 of insulating material, such fornexample as mica, hard rubber or the like. At oneor more points in this disc is provided an opening or slot 60. l

A resilient` metallic arm 61 is secured at 62 to the frame 52, from which it is suitably insulated,-and 63 is an electrical conductor whichiis electrically connected to the arm 61. rlhe arm 61 is provided with a toe or contact element extending substantially at right angles to the main portion thereof, such toe normally resting upon the surface of the insulating disc or plate 59. When, 60 is brought opposite such toe, the latter may move through such slot and into contact with the stop wheels 58 .whereby to complete an elec# tric circuit of which the machine frame` forms an element. An arm 64 of insulating material is ypivoted at 65 to the wheel 58, and

has a portion 66 which may be swung into position to cover the slot 60 and to support the toe of the linger 61, whereby to prevent the same from entering the slot.

A spindle 67 is mounted to turn in substantially horizontal bearings at 68, 69,-respectively, carried by upstanding bracket members 70, formed integrally with the yoke member 21, or if desired secured thereto in any 'desired manner; rlhe left hand endK of the spindle 67 projects beyond the bearing 68 and is adapted to have mounted thereon a spool 70 or other suitable support *upon which the braided material may be wound.

At the right of the bearing 69, the shaft 67 is provided with a fixed flanged collar 71,v

(Fig. 3). A second collar 72 is ,arranged to slide longitudinally upon the spindle 67'and between the collars 71, 72 is mounted to turn freely a sprocket wheel 7 3. Between the collar 72 and the sprocket wheel 7 3. is arranged a friction washer 74 of felt or other suitable material. A coiled spring 75 surrounds spindle 67, bearing at one end against the collar 72, and at its other end against an adjustable nut 76 which engages screw threads 77 upon the endI of the spindle. By

means ofl the nut 76 the tension of the springl 75 may be -varied and thereby the frictional pressure of the washer 7 4'against the sprock` et 7 3 may be varied.`

Passing over the sprocket 78l is a sprocket A worm wheel same relative thereto.

Misma chain 7 8 which engages a sprocket wheel 79 fixed upon a shaft 25 above described. The

rotation of shaft 25 thus serves to rotate the sprocket wheel 7 3 and through the slip connection or friction clutch of which the friction washer 74 forms an clement, the spindle 67 is driven, but in a nonpositive manner. Secured upon the spindle 67 is a pinion 80 engaging a gear 81 mounted upon a shaft 82 turning in bearings in bracket members 70. A pinion 83 upon the shaft 82 engages a gear^84 upon a transverse shaft 85 mounted in bearings at 86, 87 respectively, Such shaft h asmounted thereon artraverse cam 88. The traverse cam 88 serves in a well known manner to actuate a traverse guide 89y having spaced guide arms 90, be-

sitely revolved whereby to intertwine their respective threads at the braiding point to form a braid in the usual manner. The present machine is primarily intended for the formation of a braided thread such as is employed in the sewing of shoes, such braided thread as it is formed passing on through the braiding die 24. rlhe thread is then given one or more complete turns about the takeu'p drum 44; in most cases it will be found necessary to pass the braided material several times about theperiphery of the drinn 44 in order to avoid slipping of the u From the drum 44 the braided material may pass between the arms 90 of the traverse guide and is secured i to the spool 7 0 upon which it is to be wound.

ln .starting the machine the insulating member 64 will be swung to a position such that it covers the slot 60, the finger 61 being sprung outwardly so that its toe rests upon the edge of the member 66, thus breaking thev contact through the wheel 58, The ina-chine now continues to form braided material which "is drawn off under proper tension by the takeup drum 44 and Wound upon the spool 7 0. The friction clutch drive between the shaft. 25 and the spindle 67 permits` the spool 70 to `wind the material as fast as formed, While the friction clutch arrangement serves to compensate for` variations in the winding diameterof the mass of material upon the spool. `vllnthis connection it may be stated that ythe normal speed of rotation of sprocket wheel 73 is such as -to propa clock-wise .direction as seen in Fig. 1, the

friction between the linger 61 and the edge of the member 66 will gradually swing the arm 64 away from the slot 60 into Asubst-antially the position shown in Fig. 4.

The machine continues thus to operate luntil the wheel 58 has made acomplete rotation or until a slot 60 has been brought beneath the toe of finger 61. Such toe thereupon slips into the slot and serves to make electric contact with the metallic wheel 58. This serves to complete an'electric circuit which may in any well known manner serve to indicate to the operator that the spool 70 has received the proper amount of braided material.

Such indication may take the form of an audible signal such for example as the ringing of a bell or a visual indication by causing a lamp to glow or a finger to swing over a dial, or if desired such circuit may operate automatically to stop 4the machine by energizing a magnetic releasing device of a. common and well known type such as indicated gener llyl at 18. In the latter case, belt shiftef 15 would be moved to carry the belt to the loose pulley, thus stopping the machine and thereby notifying the operator that the spool 70 has received its proper supply Aof material and should be dolfed for replacement by an empty spool. For winding spools of different size, or for winding different quantities of material upon the spool, it is merely necessary to provide wheels 58 of different ldiameters which may be interchangeably mounted upon the shaft 56. The sliding of the shaft 56 along the slot permits such interchange. By vselecting a wheel 58 of the proper diameter, it is thus possible to cause the machine to indicate the winding ofy any desired quantity of material upon the spool.

It isunderstood that independent mechanisms generally similar in function to some of those above described, have heretofore been employed in the textile arts. It is believed that applicant is the first to combine in a unitary device and in the simple and compact form herein disclosed, braidingv in- `strumentalities and a seri/es of vmechanisms which serve to properly take up the braided material, to wind the same upon a suitable spool 'or support., and to indicate automati-v cally the proper point for stopping the machine after the braiding of a predetermined length of material. Applicant has combined with the braiding machine proper suitable supporting means whereby all the mechanisms necessary are combined to forma single unit, requiring no independent supports or auxiliary mechamsms, while at'the same time making it possible for a singley that various changes and rearrangements of i parts might well be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described one forin of thek invention together with the mode of operation thereof what I claimv and desire to secure by lietter's Patent of the United States is :l

1. A circular braiding machine having a supporting member extending diametrically across and above the same, a braiding die carried thereby at a point substantially above the center of the machine, a takeup drum carried by said member and disposed substantially above the braiding die, and a winding mechanism mounted upon said supporting member substantially directly above said drum, said mechanism comprising an automatically acting traverse guide.

2. A circular braiding machine having a supporting member upstandingl therefrom, a. shaft rotatable in bearings in said supporting member, a pinion fast to said shaft, a takeup drum arranged substantially above the braiding point and mounted to turn upon a stub shaft fixed in said supportin 'member, said drum having an internal gear for rotating said first namedshaft.

3. A braiding machine having a main drive shaft, a yoke member extending above and bridging the machine, a takeup drum carried by said yoke member, av winding spindle rotatably mounted upon said member, a transverse shaft for driving said takeup` drum, connections, including a friction clutch, between said s'haftand spindle, and means interposed between said drive shaft and the transverse shaft, whereby the latter is driven.

4. A braiding machine having a series of rotating braiding carriers, a yoke member eX- tending above and bridging the machine, a take-u .drum carried by said yoke member, a win ing spindle rotatably mounted upon said member, a reciprocable traverse guide associated with said spindle and driven thereby, a shaft for driving the take-up drum, connections between said shaft and spindle for driving the latter, and means drive shaft, a support, a shaft rotatable in ksaid support, a takeup drum fixed to said shaft, a .rotatable contact member provided Witlian isolated Contact surface, a resilient contact linger engageable with said surface Wherebyto complete an electrical circuit, means interposed betweenl said takeup shaft and said rotatable member for turning the latter, and connections from the main drive shaft for rotating the takeup shaft.

7. A. braiding machine having a takeup l"drum, a contact Wheel, means for rotating said Wheel in consonance lwith said drum, an insulating plate secured to one face of the wheel, said plate having an opening therethrough, a contact finger movable through said opening for engaging said Wheel and movable means for guarding said opening.

8. ln combination in a braiding machine having a takeup Wheel, a contactv Wheel having an insulating disc secured to one face of said Wheel, said disc having an opening theretlirougln'a sector of insulating material pivoted to said plate and swingable over said opening, and a resilient contact member having an element movable through said opening Whenjgunobstructed, whereby to make electrical contact With said Wheel.

9. In combination in a braiding machine having a takeup drum, a rotatable contact -wheel, meansfor rotating said drum and Wheel in consonance, means engageable with said wheel at predetermined times in the rotation thereof whereby to complete an electrical circuit, and means movable with the wheel for temporarily preventing such enagement. l

10. A braiding machine comprising a takeup drum, a Contact Wheel rotatable in consonance with said drum, a member provided with a contact toe engageable With said Wheel, whereby to complete anl electrical circuit, and a part carried by said Wheel and movable into position to prevent engagement of said toe, with the Wheel, said part having an element engageable with \said member whereby to restrain said part against free rotation with the Wheel.

11. In combination ,in a circular braiding machine, a takeup drum, and means for indicating a predetermined v'number of rotations of the same, said means comprising an interchangeable electrical contact Wheel.

12. lin combination in a braiding machine, a yoke member bridging the same, a takeup drum carried thereby,ashaft driven in consonance with said drum, a Worm carried bysaid shaft, a slotted bracket, and a support adjustable along the slot ,inl said bracket, said support being constructed and rarranged selectively to carry worm Wheels of different diameters for driving engagement with said Worm.

13. A circular braiding machine compris- Aing a main drive shaft, a yoke frame bridg- `ing said machine, a braiding die carried by said frame, a take up drum rotatably sup- -ported in said frame above said die, a Winding 'spindle above said drum and mounted for rotation in said frame, an electrical contact Wheel rotatably supported upon the `frame, positive drive connections between said main drive shaft and thetakeup drum and contact Wheel respectively, and friction drive means between said shaft and said spindle.

Signed by me at Boston, Mass., this 18th tday of December, 1920.

ANKER PETERSEN. 

